[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 2685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-965]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-250 and 50-251]


Florida Power and Light Company (Turkey Point Units 3 and 4); 
Exemption

I

    Florida Power and Light Company (the licensee) is the holder of 
Facility Operating Licenses Nos. DPR-31 and DPR-41, which authorize 
operation of Turkey Point Units 3 and 4, respectively (the facility), 
at a steady-state reactor power level not in excess of 2300 megawatts 
thermal. The facility is a pressurized-water reactor located at the 
licensee's site in Dade County, Florida. The licenses require among 
other things that the facility comply with all rules, regulations, and 
orders of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission or 
NRC) now or hereafter in effect.

II

    In exemptions dated March 27, 1984, and August 12, 1987, concerning 
the requirements of Section III.G, Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50, the 
NRC staff approved the use of 1-hour-rated fire barriers in lieu of 3-
hour-rated fire barriers in certain outdoor areas at Turkey Point Units 
3 and 4. In addition, the staff found that, for certain outdoor areas 
not protected by automatic fire detection and suppression systems, 
separation of cables and equipment and associated circuits of redundant 
trains by a horizontal distance of 20 feet free of intervening 
combustibles provided an acceptable level of fire safety.
    On the basis of the results of the industry's Thermo-Lag fire 
endurance testing program, the licensee concluded that the outdoor 
Thermo-Lag fire barrier designs cannot achieve a 1-hour fire-resistive 
rating but can achieve a 30-minute fire-resistive rating when exposed 
to a test fire that follows the American Society for Testing and 
Materials Standard E-119 time-temperature curve. Because of these test 
results, the licensee in a letter dated June 15, 1994, requested an 
exemption to use 30-minute fire barriers for outdoor applications in 
lieu of the 1-hour-rated fire barriers previously approved; however, 
the licensee withdrew the exemption request by letter dated June 28, 
1996.
    In a letter dated July 31, 1997, as supplemented on July 2, October 
27, and December 9, 1998, the licensee requested an exemption from the 
requirements pertaining to the 3-hour-rated fire barriers required by 
Section III.G.2.a, Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50, for fire zones 79 
(partial), 80 (partial), 82, 84 (partial), 85 (partial), 88 (partial), 
89 (partial), 91, 92, 105, and 117 in the turbine building. The 
licensee requested that the NRC approve the following fire protection 
schemes as alternatives to the protection required by Section III.G.2 
of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50: (1) separation of cables and equipment 
and associated circuits of redundant post-fire safe-shutdown trains 
within the turbine building fire zones 79 (partial), 80 (partial), 82, 
84 (partial), 85 (partial), 88 (partial), 91, 92, and 105 between 
column lines A and E-1 by a fire barrier having a minimum 1-hour fire 
resistive rating; (2) separation of cables and equipment and associated 
circuits of redundant post-fire safe-shutdown trains within the turbine 
building fire zones 79 (partial), 84 (partial), 88 (partial), and 89 
(partial) between column lines E-1 and Jc by a fire barrier having a 
minimum 25-minute fire resistive rating; and (3) separation of cables 
and equipment and associated circuits of redundant post-fire safe-
shutdown trains within the turbine building above the turbine operating 
deck, fire zone 117, by a fire barrier having a minimum 25-minute fire 
resistive rating. This request is based on the following: (1) for the 
turbine building between column lines A and E-1, automatic fixed water 
suppression systems would be provided for the major fire hazards 
(combustible sources) and the turbine lube oil equipment, and automatic 
wet pipe sprinkler protection would be provided for area coverage, 
including the turbine lube oil distribution piping locations as 
described in the enclosed safety evaluation; and (2) for the turbine 
building between column lines E-1 and Jc, an automatic wet pipe 
sprinkler protection would be provided.

III

    The underlying purpose of Section III.G.2.a, Appendix R to 10 CFR 
Part 50, is to provide reasonable assurance that one safe-shutdown 
train and associated circuits used to achieve and maintain safe-
shutdown are free of fire damage.
    On the basis of the staff's supporting safety evaluation of the 
licensee's submittals, the staff concludes that the exemption from the 
requirements of Section III.G.2.a of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50, for 
fire zones 79 (partial), 80 (partial), 82, 84 (partial), 85 (partial), 
88 (partial), 89 (partial), 91, 92, 105, and 117 as requested by the 
licensee, provides an adequate level of fire safety and presents no 
undue risk to public health and safety. In addition, the staff 
concludes that the underlying purpose of the rule is achieved.

IV

    Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 
50.12(a), the exemption is authorized by law, will not present an undue 
risk to public health and safety, and is consistent with the common 
defense and security. In addition, the Commission has determined that 
special circumstances are present in that application of the regulation 
is not necessary to achieve the underlying purpose of the rule. 
Therefore, the Commission hereby grants Florida Power and Light Company 
an exemption from the requirements of Section III.G.2.a of Appendix R 
to 10 CFR Part 50, as requested in its previously-referenced 
submittals, for fire zones 79 (partial), 80 (partial), 82, 84 
(partial), 85 (partial), 88 (partial), 89 (partial), 91, 92, 105, and 
117.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that 
granting this exemption for fire zones 79 (partial), 80 (partial), 82, 
84 (partial), 85 (partial), 88 (partial), 89 (partial), 91, 92, 105, 
and 117, will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human 
environment (63 FR 65619).
    This exemption is effective upon issuance.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of December 1998.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Samuel J. Collins,
Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-965 Filed 1-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P